Cantilever kit



Jan. 10, 1933. SHRNER 1,893,526

CANTILEVER KIT Filed Feb. 13 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN 5 I Jan. 10,1933. p SHRNER 1,893,526

CANTILEVER KIT Filed Feb. 13. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I W Y 7771'ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT "oFFIcE HARRY P. SHRIVER, 0F VAN WERT, OHIO, ASSIGNOB: KENNEDYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VAN WERT, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

oAivrIL'EvEa KI'r Application filed February 13, 1929. Serial No.339,523.

This invention relates to kits, and particularly to sheet metal kits ofthe cantilever type.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a kit havinga lid and a plurality of extended trays movable to superposed positionin the box portion of the kit when the lid is closed.

Another object is to provide a sheet metal kit provided with one or moretrays, which when the kit is in open position, are supported incantilever fashion.

Another object is to provide a kit having trays therein, and a lidadapted when moved to open position to move the trays into outwardlyextending positions, and when moved to closed position to move the traysto superposed position within thekit.

A further object is to provide a kit having outwardly extendable trays,with means wherein the lowermost tray is supported both by the body ofthe kit and the lid thereof when the lid is in open position.

A further object is to provide a kit having a lid and a plurality oftrays provided with supporting links pivotally connected to the lid andthe body portion of the kit, the pivotal connections of the linkagemembers with the body portion being above the line ,of division betweenthe lid and body portion of the kit.

A still further object is to provide a kit havinga lid and a pluralityof trays therein movable to outwardly extending positions, with anoffset portion at the upper edges of the ends of the kit body, whichsolely supports the lowermost tray when it is in unextended position andalso partially supports the same when it is in; extended position.

Another object is to provide a kit having a lid and a plurality of traysconnected thereto by pivoted linkage members, with offset portionsextending across the ends of the kit body portion which'provide pocketswhich house the linkagemembers and protect the same from articlescarried in the box portion that might interfere with the operation ofthe same.

Still another object is to provide a sheet metal kit having outwardlyextendable trays,

In the drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the presentinvention;

- Figure l is a perspective view of the kit having the lid thereofpartially opened to show the trays in partly extended position.

Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the kit shown in Fig. 1, showing the samein completely opened position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevationof the kit, portions of the front walls ofthe lid and body portion being broken away to show the interior of thekit, and particularly the pocket formed between the side of the lid andthe offset end of the body portion of the kit.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the kit partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the kit taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 4.

-Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the ends of the body portion of thekit.

Kits have been proposed heretofore for carrying fishing tackle, toolsand the like, and for displaying samples of articles-to be sold, many ofwhich kits embodied a tray or trays that were adapted to be extendedoutwardly so that articles contained therein couldbe easily seen andwere readily accessible. Many other kits of the cantilever type havebeen proposed, butall of these were complicated in construction andrelatively expen sive to manufacture, and had objectionable featureswhich are overcome by this invenis light in weight, sturdy inconstruction,

and which because of its simplicity oficon- .struction can be veryeconomically manufactured. In the embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawings, a plurality of trays are normally carried in superposedposition by a box having a hinged lid, the lowermost tray being spacedfrom the bottom of the box to provide additional carrying or storagespace. The trays are connected by a system of linkages to the box andthe lid in such a manner-that, when the lid is swung to open position,all thetrays are automatically and simultaneously moved to extendedposition with the lowermost tray supported both by the links connectedto the lid and by the upper edges of the ends of the box.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer tolike parts throughout the several views, the kit principally comprises abody portion or box A, a lid B, and trays C and D. The box A is formedof sheet metal and is provided with a bottom 10, front and rear walls 11and 12, and end walls 13. The lid B likewise is formed of sheet metaland provided with a top 14, front and rear walls 15 and 16, and endwalls 17, the rear wall 16 being hingedly connected to the rear wall 12of the box by means of suitable hinges 18. The walls, 11, 12 and 13 ofthe box A are shown to be of uniform height, and the walls 15, 16 and 17of the lid are likewise of uniform height thereby providing a simplestructure neat in appearance, of simplified construction and which canbe economically manufactured.

The upper portions of the box walls 11, 12 and 13 are preferably offsetfrom the remainder thereof to form the peripheral inwardly positionedportion 19, whereby the outer wall surfaces of the lid B will meet andbe substantially flush with the outer wall surfaces of the box A whenthe lid is in closed position, and will be spaced from the offsetportions 19 to provide pockets 40 therebetween. Fastening means 20 and21 may be provided on the front box walls 11 and the front lid walls 15to secure the lid B and box A in closed relation. The top 14 of the lidB is preferably provided with spaced U- shaped stampings 22 rigidlysecured thereto, through which a strap handle 23 extends and is anchoredat its ends to the same. It is to be noted in Fig. 2 that walls of thebox A are of substantially uniform height and that the walls of the lidB are also of uniform height. It is to be further noted that thecombined heights of the lid B and strap receiving members22 issubstantially equal to the height of the box A so that when the lid isin open position, it may be supported on the same horizontal plane asthe box A by the strap receiving members 22 for reasons which will laterbe apparent. Heretofore hinged handles have been provided which when thelids of the kits are supported thereby, have a tendency to scuff or marthe finish of the tops of the lids. It is apparent that the lidsupporting means 22 is a decided improvement over the constructions usedheretofore.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper marginal edges of the offsetportions'19 of the box end walls 13 are bent inwardly to provide flanges24 on which the lowermost tray 0 rests when the lid B is in closedposition, and which also engage the bottom of the tray C when the sameis in its extended position as shown in Fig. 2 to partially support thesame.

In addition to providing a support for the tray C when it is in openandclosed positions, it can be seen that the flanges 24 strengthen theoffset portions 19 of the end walls 13 and thus provide a very rigidstructure. The upper marginal edge of the rear wall 12 of the boxportion may be flanged downwardly as shown in the drawings or it may beflanged inwardly similar to the flanges 24 to provide an additionalsupporting surface for the tray C.

The tray C may be provided with a plurality of partitions 25 and thetray D with a plurality of partitions 26 as shown in Fig. 1, so thatarticles of different size and shape, such as fishing tackle or tools,may be kept separated while they are being carried in the trays. Thetrays C and D are of a length substantially the same as the distancebetween the outer faces of the offset end portions 19 for a reason whichwill later be apparent.

Links 27 are pivoted at their upper ends on pins 28 carried by theforward portions of the end faces of the lower tray 0, and are pivotedat their other ends by means of rivets or pins 29 to the offset endportions 19 of the box end walls 13 substantially midway between thevertical edges of the end portions 19 and adjacent to the outer faces ofthe same. Links 30 are pivotally carried intermediate their ends by pins31 secured to the ends 13 of tray C, the pins 31 being disposed in thesame horizontal plane as the pins 28. The lower ends of the links 30 arelikewise pivoted to pins 32 carried by the offset end portions 19'of thebox end walls 13, the pins 32 being disposed in the same horizontalplane as the pins 29. Referring to the end view of the kit as shown inFig. 2, the rivets 28, 29, 31 and 32' which define the axes of thepivotal connections of the links 27 and 30, form the apices of aparallelogram whereby the links 27 and 30, as regards their pivotalconnections, remain in parallel relation to permit the desired movementof the tray C.

The upper ends of the links 30 are pivotally mounted on pins 33 carriedby the forward ends of the end walls of the upper tray D. Pins 34 arealso secured to the end walls of the upper tray D in the same horizontalplane as the pins 33 to which the upper ends of short links 35 arepivotally secured. The lower ends of the links 35 are pivoted to pins 36secured to the end walls of the lower tray C in the same horizontalplane as the pins 28 and 31, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Here, too, thepivot pins 31, 33, 34 and 36 form the apices of a parallelogram, wherebythe links 30 and 35, as regards their pivotal connections, remain inparallel relation to permit the desired movement of the upper tray D.

Links 37 are pivotally carried by rivets 38 secured to the end Walls ofthe lid B, and the other ends thereof areprovided with slots -39 throughwhich the rivets 36 carried by the lower tray C extend. It is to benoted that the links 37 are positioned adjacent to the inner faces ofthe end walls 17 of the lid C, but lie outwardly of the links 35, sothat when the kit is in closed position as shown in Fig. 3, the links27, 30, 35 and 37 at each side of the kit are positioned within thepocket 40 formed between the inward- 1y offset portions 19 of the boxend walls 13 and consequently do not extend into the interior of the boxportion A to interfere with articles stored in the space between thelowermost tray 0 and the bottom 10 of the box A. Kits of this generaltype used heretofore have been constructed in such manner that thecantilever links extended into the interior of the box portion andinterfered with articles carried in the box portion. It is apparent thatthis Was a very objectionable feature and that it is overcome by the construction of the present invention. It is further apparent that articlescarried in the box A will not interfere with the several links andprevent the desired operation of the same when the lid B is moved toopen position. It is also to be noted that the pivotal connections 29and 32 for the links27 and 30 are positioned in the same horizontalplane and above the line of division between the lid B and box portionA, and that the pivotal connections 29 are located sub stantially on thevertical center lines of the end walls 13 of the box A, therebyproviding a particularly rigid support for the tray C. A further featureis that by positioning the pivotal connection in thisnxa'nnen-the endwalls 13 may be formed from'a single diemember, thereby eliminating thenecessity of constructing two dies for forming the opposite ends of thebox. The blank from which the end walls 13 are formed is shown in Fig. 3to comprise the main portion 13, flanges at the side and lower edgeswhich are bent around the sides 11 and 12 and bottom 10 of the box whenit is assembled, and the offset portion 19 having three openings 41, 42and 43 thereinf When the wall 13 shown in Fig. 6 is used for the rightend of the box as viewed in Fig. 1, the pins 29 and 32 are received bythe openings 42. and'43 respectively, and similarly when the wall isused for the left end of the box the pivot pins 29 and 32 are receivedby the openings 42 and 41 respectively. The ends of the cover ings 45 ineach end, only one of which is utilized for carrying the pivot pin 38when the link 37 is assembled thereto. This provides for aninterchangeability of the ends 17 of the cover. A rivet (not shown)conforming in size and finish to the rivet 38 may be used to conceal theunused openings 45. It is apparent that these are very advantageousfeatures because only one die is needed to form both end walls of thebox A, and only one die is needed to form both end walls of the cover B.It is also apparent that considerable storage space may be saved in theplant where the kits are made because the right and left end walls ofthe box are of the same size and shape, and because the right and leftend walls of the,

cover are of the same size and shape.

It is further apparent that by securing the several links to the offsetportions outwardly thereof as shown in the drawings, considerable timemay be saved in assembling the links because of the accessibility of thepivot pins.

When the kit is closed and carried by the handle strap 23 as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, the several links are housed and-protected within thepocket 40 previously mentioned, and the loWer tray (.3 is supported bythe flanged upper edges of the olfset end wall portions 19. The uppertray D, however, is positioned directly over the lower tray ,C and issupported thereon through the pivotal connections and links 30 and 35 ateach end of the'same. It is apparent that the trays containing theirrespective articles whatever they may be, are carried entirely by theupper edges of the offset portions 19 of the end walls 13 and not by thepivotal connections 29 and 32 as in prior constructions. This is adecided advantage because the pivotal connections are subjected torelatively little strain. 7 5

Upon opening the lid B, the links 37 pivot about the pins 38 and moverelative tothe pins 36 because of the slots 39, until the furtherniostends of slots 39 engage the pins 36 as indicated in Fig. 1. The lid inthis position will remain partially open to give ready access to onlythe upper tray D. Further opening movement of the lid B causes the links37 to-. exert an upward pressure on the pins 36 which thereby pulls thetray G into the extended the contentsof the box A as shown In Fig. 2 byreason of the pivotal action-of the links 27 and 30. The upper tray Dbecause of the fact that the upper ends of the links 30 are pivotedthereto, is also simultaneously moved to its extended position, therebyexposing the contents of the tray 0.

The lower tray C when in its extended po sition, seats upon the flanges24 at the ends position, thereby exposing of the box A so that it issupported thereby at one side, the other side thereof being supported bythe lid B through the medium of the handle anchoring melnbers 22 whichengage the surface upon which the kit is placed, and through the mediumof the links 37 which are pivoted thereto and connected with the pins 36secured to the tray 0. The upper tray D, when in its extended position,is supported through the links 30 and 35. Thus, when it is desired tohave access to the box A, tray C and tray D, it is merely necessary tomove the lid B to the position shown in Fig. 2, which automaticallymoves the trays C and D to their extended positions. Conversely, when itis desired to close the kit, it is merely necessary to swing the lid 13to the position shown in Fig. 3, which automatically moves the trays Cand D to the superposed position above the box A and within the lid B.

It is apparent that a kit is provided by the present invention embodyingmany advantageous features not present in kits proposed heretofore, someof these features being ease of operation, rigid construction, andsimplicity of construction whereby the same 2. The combination in a kit,of a sheet metal box having end and side walls of uniformheight'continuously offset at their upper ends to provide a continuousshoulder around the perimeter of said box, a sheet metal cover hinged tosaid box, vthe end and side walls of said cover being of uniform heightnearly the same as the unoflset portions of-the box side and end wallsand being arranged when in closed position to abut against said shoulderand overlap said box walls in spaced relation, a plurality of extendabletrays for said kit arranged in superposed relation in normal closedposition, the lowermost in such position being supported above thebottom of said box-on said offset wall portions, and a plurality ofoperating links arranged when said cover isclosed within the spacebetween the overlapping end walls of said box and cover, certain of saidlinks connecting said trays with said offset end wall portions andcertain of said links connecting one of said trays with said coverportion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY P. SHRIVER.

may be easily and economically manufactured.

Although the kit has been shown in the drawings to be constructed ofsheet metal, it is to be understood that it may be made of wood, fibrouscomposition material or any other suitable material.

Furthermore, it is tobe understood that the apparatus herein shown anddescribed, and

the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes ofexplanation and illustration and that various modifications of saidapparatus and procedure can be made without departing from the spiritand substanceof the broad invention, the scope of which is commensuratewith the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in a sheet metal kit, of a box portion having its endand side walls continuously offset at their upper ends to provide acontinuous shoulder around the perimeter of said box portion, asheet-metal cover hinged to said box portion and being arranged inclosed position to overlap the offset portions of said walls in spacedrelation and to abut against said continuous shoulder, an extendabletray normally supported above the bottom of said box portion on said endwall portions and the end walls of said cover whereby they are protectedfrom interference with articles carried by said box portion.

